June 22, 2023—Avertto, a startup in the health field, emerged victorious in this year’s highly competitive Asper Prize startup award, winning the first prize of NIS 100,000 for developing a system to prevent and heal strokes.

The company aims for early stroke intervention through a system that monitors blood flow to the brain, detects changes, and provides real-time alerts to enable timely, efficient treatment for stroke damage.

The award, presented by ASPER-HUJI Innovate—the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s (HU) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center—and the Asper Foundation, recognized Avertto’s outstanding achievement in using innovative technologies to make a positive global impact. With 45 startups vying for the prestigious prize, the competition was substantial, showcasing groundbreaking solutions to significant challenges in various sectors such as healthcare, food security, global warming, education, and industrial manufacturing. These startups were founded by Hebrew University researchers or alumni and/or relied on the university’s intellectual property while also meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

Throughout the competition, entrepreneurs pitched their startups to industry experts and high-ranking venture capitalists, opening doors to potential funding and partnerships. The five startups that reached the final round presented their ventures to the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University, whose members are senior leaders from all over the world and who, along with a distinguished panel of judges, chose the winning startup.

The finalists were a diverse range of innovative startups. In addition to the winner, Avertto, the startup ANINA Culinary Art caught the judges’ attention with their mission to transform “ugly vegetables” that are typically discarded into swift, tasty, and nutritious meals. Daika Wood showcased its groundbreaking wood material created through the recycling of wood waste while maintaining its original properties. Quai.MD demonstrated its AI-powered solution that economically assists healthcare providers in complex medical diagnoses, and RumaFeed displayed how it utilizes innovative molecular technologies to eliminate toxic chemicals in potato greenery, thereby preventing the wastage of millions of tons of potato leaves each year.

Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the university said, “I am proud of the Hebrew University and its ability to harness scientific knowledge to create technology that makes the world a better place… the knowledge and tools our students acquire and the interdisciplinary ecosystem they find here gives them the means to become the next generation’s technology entrepreneurs.  They will be at the forefront of human development, especially in the field of sustainability and combating the climate crisis.”

Gail Asper, chair of the Asper Foundation added, “Thank you to the startup companies that competed for the 2023 Asper Prize. We believe that the future of creating a positive impact on society and the environment and for improving humanity lies in innovative technologies created by innovative entrepreneurs. We are pleased to continue supporting startups, demonstrating our appreciation of novel technologies that benefit the public good.”

Dr. Amnon Dekel, Director of ASPER-HUJI Innovate, congratulated the finalists, saying: “Thank you to all the startups that entered the competition and for their efforts to make the world a better place. You, the brains behind the startups, are at the forefront of tomorrow’s world: not only are you holding your own in the commercial world, but you are also serving as an important model for the world of sustainability.”